The first step to good critical thinking is to

• A. Make a decision
• B. Analyze information
• C. Gather information
• D. Form a hypothesis

Answer: (C)

Gathering information sets the foundation for sound thinking. When you approach a problem, collecting relevant facts, data, sources, and different viewpoints helps you see what’s actually known, what’s disputed, and where assumptions lie. This step gives you a complete picture you can evaluate for reliability, detect biases, and identify gaps. With solid information in hand, you can move on to analyzing what the information means, compare alternatives, and then form a testable hypothesis or make a reasoned decision. Skipping this step leaves you relying on incomplete impressions, which makes any subsequent analysis or judgment less trustworthy.